Neighborhoods in Ocala (The Villages, Belleview, Dunnellon: HOA, house, to buy)

[candy parker]

Thank you to everyone who has answered my questions regarding the Ocala area of Florida. I will be traveling to the area in June and wondered if there are specific neighborhoods anyone would recommend? What about Dunnelon (?) or Belleview? My husband and I are retiring full time to Florida within two years, but feel a need to buy while prices are low. We are moving from a 70 acre farm in rural northern Maine. We are tired of loooong winters and hard work. We would like a half acre to an acre. Do not want neighbors right on top of us, but not too far from stores, medical facilities....not more than 20 mins away I would say. North, south...which is best for what we want? Thank you.

[sean1the1]

Well you are in luck there a tons of communities that fit your liking. First Off I would recommend Marion Oaks there are a ton of retirees most of the lots are empty around the edges of the community,only ten minutes from the hospital, and all the shopping S.R. 200 has to offer. Second would be Rainbow Park out in Dunnellon Basically it is eve Further out there you will most likely not have direct neighbors. Third there is Silver Springs shores where you would out of the three you'd probably have neighbor. There is not much shopping out there, but they have grocery stores and what not feels like more a suburb. Belleview heights kind of fits into the Category also, But there is no shopping nor medical centers Belleview is a few miles away it has some shopping. There is your typical retirement communities out on 200 that I would not recommend for you since you guys seem like country folk.

[candy parker]

Originally Posted by sean1the1

Well you are in luck there a tons of communities that fit your liking. First Off I would recommend Marion Oaks there are a ton of retirees most of the lots are empty around the edges of the community,only ten minutes from the hospital, and all the shopping S.R. 200 has to offer. Second would be Rainbow Park out in Dunnellon Basically it is eve Further out there you will most likely not have direct neighbors. Third there is Silver Springs shores where you would out of the three you'd probably have neighbor. There is not much shopping out there, but they have grocery stores and what not feels like more a suburb. Belleview heights kind of fits into the Category also, But there is no shopping nor medical centers Belleview is a few miles away it has some shopping. There is your typical retirement communities out on 200 that I would not recommend for you since you guys seem like country folk.

Thanks so much Sean. I've heard Rainbow Park can have flooding problems? Have you heard anything about that?

[Hilltown Maple]

We have a house in Rainbow Park and haven't had any problems with flooding. We made sure the house we purchased was not in a flood plane. When Rainbow Park was developed they did not include any drainage or retention ponds and this has caused problems with some of the roads.

I like the location - country but close enough to shopping etc. I can hear horses whinny from my backyard and can see the horses in the pasture. We didn't want to have to pay a HOA fee and didn't want to be in the middle of nowhere.

[=^..^=]

Originally Posted by sean1the1

Belleview heights kind of fits into the Category also, But there is no shopping nor medical centers Belleview is a few miles away it has some shopping. There is your typical retirement communities out on 200 that I would not recommend for you since you guys seem like country folk.

We spent the last few winters in Belleview and do our main shopping at The Villages or more often, in Ocala only 15 minutes away. Belleview is a nice quiet area but has what you need in a pinch, from a K-Mart store, to a Publix, to Drug stores and a few decent restaurants.